Reply #5: I'm just being paranoid :) [View All]

Yes, Goiania (and thanks for the name, BTW, I can check my facts now!) was an extreme event, in terms of TBq, stupidity and ignorance, which is why I chose it: Not even the most ardent anti-nuke protester would argue that disused reactor cores are full of glowing salts there for the taking.

I shall bow to your considerable knowledge on the matter. Although I confess I remain as leery of radiation as I am of spiders, these days I recognise the difference between irrational and rational fears: I'm not sure that puts me in the majority, though.

I guess what I'd really like (if I was near a disused reactor and had an inquisitive 14 year-old) would be a survey of every nook and cranny with geiger/scintillation counters to check the residual levels were well within guidelines, and confirmation that anything not nailed down was safe - a bit of added expense for the operator, but probably cheaper than removing the whole thing.